Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1887-08-18


in West Virginia and elsewhere to the re-
marks. in a recent interview, of Prot. T. H.
Murray, editor and proprietor OF the ot,
Louis Aaraace, who was formerly resident
Of Kentucky and published the first colored
newspaper ever issued in the State-the
C5lore9 Kcatuckian. Mr.. Murray is col
ored Republican. The Matthews he men
tions is the Albany colored man nominated
for recorder of deeds at Washington and
rejected by the Republican Senate we
qoute of Blaine is nominated 1t will be
very serious question with me as TO wheth-
er I viii support him or Cleveland. My
present inclinations are to vote for the lat
ter. although have always been Repub-
lican. Mr.. Cleveland is certainly tairer
and q better man for the colored race than
Mr.. Blaine. and has shown it by his official
action. His fight for Matthews won him
laurels. and other mate rs have shown his
sentiments in regard to US. 1t would be
decidedly better for the colored race If they
were more divided politically, and not fol-
lowing blindly wherever they arc led. The
idea Of Blaine and Ingalls, that a eolored
man cannot be Democrat without being
monstrosity is being strongly condemned
by pro gressiye men of the race. You will
lind in the Eastern States leading negroes
think as do on political questions
Senator Harry Riddleberger has the ca
paci,y 10 create sensation In his village
home rs well as upon the door of the U. 5.
Senate. On Friday last, it appears, he was
counsel for one Jones, who was on trial for
misdemeanor. The verdict Of the jury was
that Jones was insane and he was discharg-
cd Why Senator Riddleberger should
have gotten mad about it does not appear !;
bat he did and procured a bit of white
cardboard and inscribed upon it; Verdict
Bill Jones not guilty, but insane. jury
insane. Lawyers insane. Court insane in
the maiu." This placard was placed upon
the discharged prisoner and he was paraded
abou; the town. It having been brought to
the notice Of the Judge Senator Riddleber-
Ger was arrested and brought before the
Judge. Upon failure to satisfactorily ex-
plain his part in the matter and for disre-
spcct 20 the Judge in his presence he was
fined SO and committed to Jail for five days.
At night body of men, friends Of the SEN
ator, by force entered the Jail and set the
Senator at liberty. Great excitement pre-
vailed in Woodstock on Saturday, and dur
ing the day Senator Riddleberger yolunta-
rily surrendered himself and was replaced
in The Jail Judge Newman, on Tuesday,
upon recommendation Of physicians re-
leased senator Riddlebcrger until his ply
steal condition is improved.
The most appalling disaster Of the age
we'll. of the railroad age-occurred near the
( town of Chatsworth, Illinois on Thursday
night. An excursion train on the Toledo
and Warsaw Railroad coaches and
nine hundred and sixty passengers for Nj
agara Falls, went through burning bridge.
One hundred and eight teen dead bodies were
taken out and the wounded four hundred
And one of the worst features Of the whole
was the robbing of the dead and wounded
In a systematic way by fends whom 1t Is
supposed wrecked the train. Dcmoniacal
possession in this age We learn from Mr..
james West. now here, who for few years
past has been "a resident Of Peoria, that he
recognizes in the list of dead twenty five or
thirty of his observation-disclosures Of
ability. business men of high standing and
some of the first and best ladies of Peoria.
The past week there has been a case OF
lively interest before Judge Harper Of
Washington City in which Deputy District
Attorney A. \. Lipscomb-a native of this
lown-has been conspicuous for the ability
with which he has conducted his side Of it.
The reports in the Washington papers de
velop some breezy encounters between the
District Attorney and the lawyers for the
defense. and our former young tOwnsman
has been equal to the occasion. There
have been surface indications Of resort,
on the part of his legal antagonists, to
Code not recognized by the Courts, and We
DO not find that the counsel for the prosecu-
ton abatcd one jot or little Of his preroga-
tive to be searching in his inquiries because
the ragged edge OF a personal difficulty was
i'm view
Very like our energetic friend Charles
Broadway Rouss is the mercantile quality
ascribed to William Whitley, the big Lon
don tradesman, recently burned out for the
seventh time and millions of property de-
youred by the flames. We quote from a